Great Mattiscombe Sand

The sand here is proper golden when the light catches it right, and that's the first thing that hits you when you round the headland near Kingsbridge. Great Mattiscombe Sand is a fairly modest stretch of beach - nothing that'll make you gasp like Bantham or Thurlestone nearby, but that's precisely why it works. You get the Devon coast without the crowds.

It's a cracking spot for families with younger kids. The beach shelves gently, there's decent sand for castle-building, and the backdrop of cliffs keeps things visually interesting without being dramatic. Walkers get more from the surrounding coastal paths than the beach itself - the real draw is stringing it together with a longer clifftop ramble. If you're after a full day of seaside loafing with ice creams and amusement arcades, you'll be disappointed. If you want to park up for a couple of hours, paddle about, and move on, you've found your place.

There's no charge as far as anyone can tell, and parking is straightforward if you get the timing right - early morning beats midday. Allow an hour or two, longer if you're walking the paths properly. Summer weekends pull more visitors, so spring and autumn are better bets.

Stay at Wilton Farm Camping just 3 miles away and you're well positioned. It's close enough for a morning beach trip before heading elsewhere, or a quick evening dip after exploring Start Bay's other options. The campsite itself rates highly, and having Great Mattiscombe Sand nearby adds a quieter alternative to bigger beaches in the area.